Pious Women

Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was a woman who was honoured by Allah Ta‘ala in a unique manner – an entire surah of the Quraan Majeed is named after her, and she is the only woman whose name is mentioned, not once, but repeatedly in the Quraan Majeed.

Among the prominent rulers of Afghanistan during the 1800s was a man named Dost Muhammad Khan who passed away in 1863.

At one point during his rule, he appointed one of his sons as his successor. After some time, when an enemy force attacked his kingdom, he dispatched this very son to defend the kingdom and recover the territory that was lost to the invading forces. On the instruction of his father, the son set out with an army.

Later on, Dost Muhammad Khan received the news that his son had been defeated and had fled from the battlefield. Extremely pained, grieved and disappointed, he entered his home and addressed the boy’s mother saying, “Our son has turned out to be weak and cowardly! He has suffered defeat and is fleeing the battlefield, whereas this is the time for him to show his courage and bravery! Furthermore, I have appointed him as my successor. The people will now tell me that I have appointed a weakling and a coward as my successor. This has caused me immense grief and disappointment.”

Towards the end of her life, the respected wife of Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) became ill, and shortly before passing away, she also suffered a stroke.

Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) mentioned: “When I would arrive home, I would almost always find my respected wife engaged in reciting the Quraan Majeed. Towards the end of her life, she became extremely ill and weak. However, even in this state, her nafl salaah, zikr and recitation of the Quraan Majeed did not decrease. I would sometimes (take pity on her due to her illness and) say to her, ‘Decrease your nafl ‘ibaadah a little.’ However, she would merely smile and remain silent.”

He also said: “We were married for approximately fifty years, and for this entire period, she remained punctual on her Tahajjud Salaah.”

Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) was blessed with a wife who was extremely caring, considerate and obedient, and her compassion was such that she would be concerned regarding the wellbeing of one and all.

Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) was the special attendant of Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah). On one occasion, when Meer Saheb (rahimahullah) was extremely sick, his sister went to visit the respected wife of Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah). On returning from her visit, she made the following remark to Meer Saheb (rahimahullah):

Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) had great love for his Shaikh (spiritual mentor), Moulana Shah ‘Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (rahimahullah), and was very devoted and attached to him. Hence, he remained in his company for lengthy periods, benefitting from his piety, teachings and guidance.

However, Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar (rahimahullah) mentioned that it was only on account of his wife’s selflessness and generous spirit that he was able to remain with his Shaikh and benefit from him in this manner, as she had happily sacrificed her own rights by allowing him to remain away from her during this time. When she saw his deep devotion to his Shaikh, she said to him, “You may remain in the service of your Shaikh for as long as you wish. I will neither object nor impose anything on you.”